Featured Project

Park Place is a five-level, 334-space parking structure with 3,000 square feet of retail area on the corner of Front and Pattee Streets. Designed to create a new “brand” for the Missoula Parking Commission that is “fresh, urban and progressive,” the building has pedestrian-friendly elements that reinforce the urban fabric of downtown Missoula and the Missoula Downtown Master Plan. The building is also projected to use 60% less energy than a typical parking structure. Infrastructure for electric car charging receptacles is included in the building so that energy from the roof-mounted panels could power a parker’s commute. The skin covering the parking portion of the building is made of perforated aluminum panels with 30” wide view slots at eye level to allow unobstructed views to the surrounding hills. There are 8 colors of panel in a mosaic pattern – the colors below the swooping metal line that splits the façade reflect the colors of dried grasses on the hillsides surrounding Missoula; the colors above the swoop are selected to relate to the sky.

You and your architect:
Selecting an architect

follow these steps:

Consider selecting an architect as early as possible. Architects can help you define your project in every respect and may do site studies, assist in securing planning and zoning approvals, and provide a variety of other pre-design services.

To find a suitable firm talk to individuals that have a similar project and ask them if they were happy with the architect they selected. Review our featured projects to see if you are able to identify firms that match your project type and expectations. You can also consult our directory to find architects in your area.

Interview potential firms so you can learn how the architect’s team will approach your project. Also review projects the firm has designed that are similar in scale and type to yours.

Park Place is a five-level, 334-space parking structure with 3,000 square feet of retail area on the corner of Front and Pattee Streets. Designed to create a new “brand” for the Missoula Parking Commission that is “fresh, urban and progressive,” the building has pedestrian-friendly elements that reinforce the urban fabric of downtown Missoula and the Missoula Downtown Master Plan. The building is also projected to use 60% less energy than a typical parking structure. Infrastructure for electric car charging receptacles is included in the building so that energy from the roof-mounted panels could power a parker’s commute. The skin covering the parking portion of the building is made of perforated aluminum panels with 30” wide view slots at eye level to allow unobstructed views to the surrounding hills. There are 8 colors of panel in a mosaic pattern – the colors below the swooping metal line that splits the façade reflect the colors of dried grasses on the hillsides surrounding Missoula; the colors above the swoop are selected to relate to the sky.

You and your architect:
Getting Started

ask yourself these questions:

How will your project be used — do you have specific ideas on how to translate these activities into spaces and square footage?

Do you have a site or will this also be a subject of discussion with your architect?

Have you decided upon a schedule or budget?

What are your overall aesthetic and emotional, as well as practical, aspirations for the project?

The American Institute of Architects is the voice of the architecture profession dedicated to serving its members, advancing their values and improving the quality of the built environment. Through a culture of innovation, the American Institute of Architects empowers its members and inspires creation of a better built environment.